1-Color
May 1, 2014
50 cents Adams County and Jefferson County, Colorado | Volume 69, Issue 25 A publication of
westminsterwindow.com
A ‘WindoW’ to the pAst
Ciancio appointed to board By Ashley Reimers
areimers@colorado communitymedia.com
Steve and Barb Bates of Northglenn look through past editions of the Westminster Journal at the Westminster History Center grand opening Saturday. Steve participated in Ranum High School gymnastics, which won state competion while he was at the school in 1969-71. Photo by Mikkel Kellly
Kokopelli more than just hand-crafted beers By Ashley Reimers
areimers@colorado communitymedia.com
Rob Rodriguez, a brewer at Kokopelli Beer Company in Westminster, works on some brewing equipment prepping for the evening’s brewing session. Photo by Ashley Reimers POSTAL ADDRESS
Printed on recycled newsprint. Please recycle this copy.
Kokopelli Beer Company almost didn’t make it on the Westminster map. Owner Christine Wares was close to giving up on securing a loan for her business, when she received a phone call that changed everything. “I got a phone call from a woman, I don’t even remember her name, but she told me a story about herself and she told me not to give up and to go back to the bank for one last try,” Wares said. “So I went back in and sure enough, I was approved for financing and then started from there. The bank realized I wasn’t giving up.” Wares started brewing beer in her garage. She worked in the telecommunications industry for over 25 years before being laid off and eventually pursuing her passion for brewing beer. Wares did tons of demographic research before landing on Westminster as the location of choice, eventually opening in January at 8931 Harlan St. “After looking into many areas, Westminster was the strongest in terms of the demographics,” she said. “My choice will be even stronger after the new mall is built and with light rail eventually come to this area.” Wares has a 10-barrel brewing system that creates a variety of beers choices, including the six house ales that will always be on tap, and other specialty rotating beers. She said the beers have a good flavor and are an easy transition for people who enjoy lighter beers like Coors and Budweiser. She’s also quite proud of her two gluten-free beers on tap. “The two we have on tap are 100 percent gluten-free, made with absolutely no grain,” Wares said. “We’re known for these beers.” It’s not just about the beer at Kokopelli, but also about made-from-scratch food
Beers continues on Page 17
Ranum High School graduate Ken Ciancio is the newest member of the Adams County School District 50 school board. He was sworn in by District Judge John Stipech during the April 22 board meeting. Ciancio is finishing up Bob Landgraf’s term, who resigned from the board on April 8 after deciding to move out of the district and into a newly purchased home in northeastern Adams County. After Landraf’s resignation, the board quickly started the appointment process and voted unanimously for Ciancio during an April 21 special meeting. Ciancio Ciancio, who is the manager at Adventure Golf and Raceway in Westminster, grew up in District 50 attending F.M. Day Elementary, Scott Carpenter Middle School and later Ranum High School. After he took his seat on the board, Ciancio, mentioned the great influence Landgraf had on him growing up. “Mr. Landgraf has been a mentor and a coach of mine since my days at F.M. Day some 40 years ago,” he said. “I will continue to lean on him over the next few months and beyond.” Ciancio has three great passions in his life: the Hyland Hills Park and Recreation District, his hometown recreation district and employer, Court Appointed Special Advocates, CASA, an organization that provides a voice for abused and neglected children through the court system and District 50, the place he said provided him a terrific education. He said he’s seen the district at its very best and also in some bad times, but now he believes the district is on an upscale with great possibilities. “The positive energy over the last twoand-half years has been great. This district is going up and I want to be part of that,” he said. “In my opinion we are very close from going from good to great.” One thing Ciancio would like to see happen in the district is more preschool opportunities in elementary schools. He said if a child can start in preschool and head to kindergarten in the same school, the odds of that student staying within that elementary school and later transitioning into a District 50 middle school and high school, are much greater. “I really believe if we can take a child from preschool and get them into kindergarten, they will stay with us in this district,” he said. “We can keep our students; we just have to give them a reason not to go somewhere else by providing them the top quality education, which are capable of doing.” Ciancio is also fully aware of the difficult position the board is in with budget cuts after a $5.25 million mill levy failed to pass last fall. A trip back to the voters is one Ciancio is backing. “I think we need to seriously consider going back for another attempt and start thinking about ways to tell our story better to the public and show them the improvements the district has made,” he said. “We need the public to have trust in us. That’s a big deal.” Until then, Ciancio realizes cuts will have to be made for the 2014-2015 school year. Although he doesn’t have the complete answer at this point, his focus will be trying to keep the cuts away from the classroom and students as much as possible. “The less the child can feel the cut, the better,” he said.